Page 94 of Boudicca

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I came awake slowly. My eyes opened. My vision was blurred, though I could see that dawn had lightened the sky. I could not feel my body. I only knew I was tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep. I closed my eyes.

“Boudicca! Queen Boudicca!”

My eyes opened again.Briallen?

“Boudicca! Boudicca!”

No, it was Maldwyn. He sounded distressed. I wondered why. Had I been gone so long?

You cannot rest yet, Victory. Answer them.

“Them? Briallen and Maldwyn?” I thought I’d spoken in a normal voice, but it was barely a whisper.

“Boudicca!” Cadoc’s voice had joined Maldwyn’s.

“My queen! Where are you, my queen?” Abertha shouted.

I blinked and my sight cleared along with my head. I sat, only a little dizzy, and instantly began to shiver. I was incredibly cold.

“Queen Boudicca!” Briallen sounded closer.

I drew a deep breath and through chattering teeth called, “H-here! Here!”

“Boudicca!” Maldwyn’s voice was close.

“Here!” I shouted hoarsely.

When Maldwyn crashed through the underbrush on Ennis, I was struggling to stand on legs that were numb with cold.

“She’s here!” Maldwyn bellowed between cupped hands as he slid from the big gray and ran to me. “I found the queen!”

He reached me in time to catch me as my legs failed to hold me. Maldwyn pulled me into his arms. “By the gods, you’re freezing!” With one hand he took off his cloak and wrapped it around me. “Are you injured? What happened?”

“I’m s-so cold.” I was shivering violently.

Briallen thundered up with Cadoc and Abertha close behind, dismounting before their horses stopped.

Briallen’s hands were feeling along my body—my arms, my legs, and then my torso. “I cannae find the wound. Where are you injured?”

I looked down at my body. There was no blood. My nightdress was covered with dirt. The skirt was ripped, exposing my legs. They were blue with cold, but they weren’t injured. My gaze went to my arms. They were dirty but whole. I stood straighter. My back wasn’t broken, and as I began to thaw wrapped in Maldwyn’s warm cloak, I realized my mind was clear.

A bubble of laughter escaped through my chattering teeth. “I-I’m alive!”

“Queen Boudicca, look at me,” Cadoc ordered in a voice he’d never before used with me.

I frowned and turned my gaze to the shield. “Do not command me,” I snapped.

Cadoc’s smile was brilliant. “She is herself.”

“Of c-course I am.” I shivered. “I’m just c-cold.”

“I’ll never let Herself out of my sight again,” Briallen muttered under her breath.

“We need to get her back,” said Abertha.

“Can you ride?” Maldwyn asked.